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Friday, January 11, 2013

New Haven Man Sentenced to Years in Federal Prison for Selling Stolen Firearms

David
B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that
KHALID AZIZ, also known as "Corey Williams, Sr.," "Cory
Williams," "Avery Smith," "Gregory Richardson,"
"Andre Gorham," and "Big Corey," 43, of New Haven, was
sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven
to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release,
for selling stolen firearms.

According
to court documents and statements made in court, AZIZ’s son, Corey Williams,
Jr., told AZIZ that he had stolen multiple firearms from a Meriden gun store
and was having trouble selling some of the "big guns." AZIZ put
Williams in touch with Airess Johnson, who knew someone interested in
purchasing firearms. The potential purchaser was an individual cooperating with
law enforcement, and that cooperator negotiated a purchase price for three
firearms with Williams.

At
approximately 8:30 p.m. on February 2, 2012, AZIZ, Williams and Johnson drove
to the parking lot of a New Haven restaurant. After AZIZ and Williams exited
the vehicle and waited in front of a nearby store, the cooperator purchased two
12 gauge shotguns and a .308 caliber semi–automatic rifle from Johnson in
exchange for $1,200. After the transaction, AZIZ, Williams and Johnson departed
together. Williams then paid AZIZ approximately $50 for his role in
facilitating the sale of the three firearms.

Law
enforcement officers later recovered the three firearms from the cooperator’s
vehicle. All three had been reported stolen from a federal firearms licensee in
Meriden on November 5, 2011. Six additional firearms that were stolen at the
same time remain unaccounted for.

AZIZ’s
criminal history includes at least 19 felony convictions.

On
October 22, 2012, AZIZ pleaded guilty to one count of sale of stolen firearms.

Williams,
24, of Meriden, pleaded guilty to the same charge on November 2, 2012. He is
scheduled to be sentenced on January 15.

Johnson,
35, of New Haven, pleaded guilty on July 3, 2012, to one count of possession of
firearms by a previously convicted felon. On January 3, 2013, she was sentenced
to 20 months of imprisonment.

This
matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, with substantial assistance provided by the New Haven Police
Department and the Meriden Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by
Assistant United States Attorney Marc H. Silverman.